In The Presence of My Enemies

[Jennifer]

Anyone read In the Presence of My Enemies: A Gripping Account of the Kidnapping of American Missionaries in the Philippine Jungle.? It's based on a true story that happened in 2001. Really good book. Makes you stop and think for sure. I don't know what I would do, or how good my faith would be after being a year in captivity like they were. Just wondering if anyone else had read it, or remembered the Burnham's story.

[Deborah]

I remember the story from the news, but I haven't read the book. It sounds very powerful.

[Barbara]

It's one I've been interested in reading, but haven't yet. I do remember hearing the story.

[Lyn]

Missionaries are on the front line.

[Jennifer]

It was very powerful. I think one of my favorite quotes is this one
“I really don’t know why this has happened to us. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Psalm 100—what it says about serving the Lord with gladness. This may not seem much like serving the Lord, but that’s what we’re doing, you know? We may not leave this jungle alive, but we can leave this world serving the Lord ‘with gladness’; we can ‘come before his presence with singing’

And this one about her husband.
"These things are hard for all of us. And in my case, it’s not just an academic exercise. I lost a husband over this. Perhaps it’s useful to notice that while the verse in James says fervent prayer “availeth much,” it does not say it “availeth everything.” Why? Because the Abu Sayyaf—and all of us—still retain the power of personal choice, the option of standing stubbornly against the will of God. And that obstinate stance is, apparently, something an almighty God is not willing to bulldoze."